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1 


THE 


Work  and  Mission 


OF 

LIBERIA. 


EDWARD  S.  MORRIS, 

OF 

PHILADELPHIA. 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PENNSYLVANIA  COLONIZATION  ROOMS, 
609  Walnut  Street. 


THE 


Work  and  Mission 


OF 

LIBERIA. 


BY 

EDWARD  S.  MORRIS, 

OF 

PHILADELPHIA. 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PENNSYLVANIA  COLONIZATION  ROOMS, 
609  Walnut  Street. 


Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Colonization  Society  at 
the  Monthly  Meeting  held  in  Phila- 
delphia, Nov . qth,  1880. 


In  answer  to  a request  of  the  Board,  at  a meeting  held  Sep- 
tember 14th,  1880,  Mr.  Edward  S.  Morris  prepared  and  read  a 
Paper  on  his  Educational  work  in  Liberia,  and  gave  some 
interesting  facts  concerning  the  Medina  and  Vey  tribes,  and  the 
desire  by  the  former  of  annexation  to  the  Liberian  Republic. 
He  also  stated  that  the  teachers  for  his  school  at  Arthington  had 
sailed  on  the  1st  of  November. 

A vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  Mr.  Morris  for  his  interesting 
paper,  and  a Committee  consisting  of  the  Rev.  James  Saul,  D.D.^ 
and  Wm.  V.  Pettit,  Esq.,  appointed  to  have  five  hundred  copies 
printed  for  distribution. 

HENRY  L.  PHILLIPS, 


Recording  Secretary. 


To  the  Hon.  ELI  K.  PRICE,  President, 

AND  TO  THE 

BOARD  OF  MANAGERS 

OF  THH 

PENNSYLVANIA  COLONIZATION  SOCIETY. 


Gentlemen  : — In  answer  to  the  request  of  this  Board  at  its 
monthly  meeting,  September  14th,  it  is  my  pleasure  not  only  to 
repeat  the  statements  I then  made,  but  to  add  not  a little  thereto. 

When  in  May  last,  I went  to  New  York  to  see  136  Freedmen 
embark  for  Liberia,  I asked  them  why  this  emigration  ? Who 
encouraged  them  to  go  ? With  one  voice  they  replied,  “ This 

MOVEMENT  COMES  FROM  OUR  OWN  HEARTS.  GOD  PUT  IT  THERE." 

The  proposed  annexation  to  Liberia  of  the  Medina  country, 
with  its  native  population  of  half  a million  of  people,  two  hundred 
miles  in  the  interior,  is  one  of  great  significance. 

If  I properly  understood  Dr.  Edward  W.  Blyden  in  a late  con- 
versation, this  annexation  comes  from  no  positive  or  direct  action 
of  either  the  Liberian  Government  or  its  citizens,  but  from  the 
general  influence  of  the  Christian  Republic,  as  represented  by  its 
laws,  its  Churches,  its  homes  of  social  life,  and  true  refinement 
and  the  general  industry  of  the  people.  May  we  not  say, 
“ Heaven  hath  a hand  in  these  events." 

This  particular  and  self- moved  action  of  the  native  tribes  of 
Africa,  if  not  prevented  by  the  British  Government,  should  of 
itself  settle  the  boundary  question  between  Sierra-Leone  and 
Liberia,  about  which  our  United  States  Government  lately  acted  as 
arbitrator  through  Com.  Schufeldt,  of  the  war  ship  Ticonderoga. 

When  in  England  last  year,  I read  with  heartfelt  pleasure  the 
comments  of  the  London  Times  and  the  Echo ; the  former  re- 
marked : 


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“ This  annexation  is  without  a parallel  in  ancient  or  modern 
history,  and  in  this  day  of  standing  armies  it  is  pleasing  to  know 
that  it  comes  from  the  opening  hearts  and  minds  of  the  people, 
and  will  be  concluded  by  the  pen, — not  the  sword.”  While  the 
latter  influential  publication  said,  “ The  Liberian  Republic  is 
among  the  greatest  moral  and  social  experiments  of  our  time.” 

The  influence  of  the  Medina  people  has  favorably  operated 
upon  other  tribes.  By  Treaty,  dated  25th  of  June,  1880,  between 
the  kings  and  princes  of  the  Vey  tribe  and  the  President  of 
Liberia,  occurs  the  following : “ This  tribe  acknowledges  and 
confirms  forever  the  absolute  and  sovereign  power  of  the 
Liberian  Government  over  their  territory  and  country  above- 
named,  hereby  binding  ourselves,  our  h£trs,  our  respective 
subjects  and  our  successors  in  office,  to  observe  and  keep  the 
laws  of  the  Republic  of  Liberia,  and  obey  all  orders  emanating 
from  the  President,  or  any  Superintendent  or  Commissioner  duly 
appointed  by  the  Government  of  Liberia.” 

Article  5th  provides,  “ In  case  of  dispute  which  cannot  be 
settled  between  ourselves,  (i.  e.t  their  own  tribal  differences) 
then,  in  that  case,  the  same  shall  be  referred  to  the  President  of  the 
Republic  of  Liberia  for  his  decision  thereon,  which  we  hereby  pro- 
mise, covenant  and  agree,  to  observe  and  obey  on  our  part.  Any 
violation  of  the  promises  of  this  agreement  by  any  of  the  above- 
named  chiefs,  he  or  they  shall  be  regarded  as  a common  enemy  to 
the  well-being,  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  country,  and  shall 
be  punished  by  the  Government  of  Liberia,  according  to  the  laws 
of  the  land.  The  Government  of  Liberia  on  its  part,  promises  to 
promote  foreign  and  domestic  trade  by  opening  ports  of  entry 
and  trading  posts.” 

Mr.  President : having  been  among  these  people,  I can  testify 
of  what;  my  eyes  have  seen,  my  hands  handled,  and  I venture 
nothing  when  I say  the  native  tribes  around  about  Liberia  desire 
the  school-house  and  the  Christian  Church  quite  as  much,  if  not 


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more,  than  the  port  of  entry  and  trading  post.  Let  Liberia  send 
the  school  teacher  with  the  hoe  and  the  Bible,  as  well  as  the 
Customs  Collector. 

The  Liberian  Government  has  done  well  in  the  8th  and  9th 
articles  of  this  agreement,  promising  to  promote  and  foster  the 
educational  interests  of  these  tribes.  In  article  10,  the  tribes 
hereby  agree  to  send  or  cause  their  children  to  be  sent  to  school, 
as  well  as  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  same  according 
to  the  laws  of  Liberia  regulating  taxes. 

This  treaty  was  signed  by  kings  and  princes  in  the  presence  of 
three  commissioners,  appointed  by  Anthony  W.  Gardner,  Presi- 
dent of  Liberia.  These  treaties  will  come  before  the  Legislature 
of  Liberia  at  its  Annual  Session  in  January  next.  Dr.  Blyden 
told  me  he  would  be  present,  and  encourage  their  confirmation. 
This,  then,  is  the  work  and  mission  of  Liberia , — to  take  the 
natives  by  the  hand  and  educate  them  into  the  paths  of  civilization 
and  Christianity, — thus  preparing  the  land  and  people  for  the 
reception  of  many  of  our  Freedmen,  now  looking  to  their  fatherland 
through  the  vestibule — Christian  Liberia,  the  open  door  to 
heathen  Africa. 

As  with  the  answer  of  the  Freedmen  of  America  GOING  TO 
Africa,  so  now  is  richly  blended  the  reply  from  kings  and  princes 
IN  Africa.  “ This  movement  comes  from  our  own  hearts. 
God  put  it  there.” 

Looking  to  these,  our  Freedmen,  Thomas  Jefferson,  with  the 
pen  of  prophecy,  wrote  : 

“ Going  from  a country  possessing  all  the  useful  arts,  they 
might  be  the  means  of  transplanting  them  among  the  inhabitants 
of  Africa,  and  would  thus  carry  back  to  the  country  of  their 
origin  the  seeds  of  civilization,  which  might  render  their  sojourn- 
ment here  a blessing  in  the  end  to  that  country.”  As  a confirma- 
tion of  this;  what  said  the  great  statesman,  Henry  Clay? 
“ Although  I may  be  thought  extravagant  in  my  view,  I declare 


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that  of  all  the  projects  of  the  age,  there  is  none  to  compare  with 
that  great  project  of  transporting  the  free  people  of  color  in  the 
United  States,  with  their  own  consent,  to  the  coast  of  Africa." 

Mr.  President,  as  we  sit  here  month  after  month,  and  year  after 
year,  as  Managers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Colonization  Society 
prayerfully  considering  the  elevation  of  a race  and  the  redemption 
of  a continent,  how  encouraging  are  the  above  facts  and  the  words 
of  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  and  our  late  fellow-citizen,  Joseph  R. 
Ingersoll ; the  former  said,  “ The  more  this  noble  scheme 
develops  itself,  the  more  diversified  become  the  aspects  in  which 
it  awakens  our  admiration,  and  conciliates  our  esteem."  While 
the  latter  exclaimed,  “ I do  not  understand  how  any  one  can 
look  at  the  facts  as  they  now  stand  forth  to  the  world,  and  not  be 
convinced  of  the  great  wisdom  and  high  claims  of  this  enter- 
prise." 

My  fellow-members  of  this  Society  will  be  pleased  to  learn 
that  I have  seen  my  way  clear  to  send  two  teachers  for  my  school 
to  be  located  at  Arthington,  the  most  interior  settlement  in 
Liberia.  Mrs.  Ogden  and  her  son. 

I am  quite  sure,  Mr.  President,  the  following  interesting  cir- 
cumstance is  worthy  of  record  in  this  society  : 

In  1832  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Ogden,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Pennington,  N.  J.,  had  a son  born  to  him,  whom  he  named  Tho- 
mas Spencer  Ogden.  He  graduated  at  the  University  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  in  1853.  He  entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton,  in  1854,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1857,  and 
was  ordained  as  a missionary  to  Africa,  on  the  18th  of  August  of 
the  same  year.  On  September  17th  he  married  Miss  Phoebe  E. 
Combs,  daughter  of  Lewis  L.  Combs,  Esq.,  an  elder  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Millstone,  N.  J. 

They  sailed  from  New  York  on  October  6,  1857,  and  arrived 
at  Corisco  Island/January  14,  1858.  He  immediately  began  to 
teach  the  Benga  boys,  then  at  Evangasimba,  but  soon  afterwards, 


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with  all  the  boys,  was  transferred  to  Ugobi.  In  June,  1859,  he 
was  seized  with  typhoid  fever,  and  in  hope  of  a more  speedy 
recovery  he  was  removed  to  Evangasimba,  where  he  soon  re- 
sumed the  instruction  of  the  boys  who  were  candidates  for  licen- 
sure in  the  Ugobi  school.  In  i860  he  suffered  another  attack  of 
fever,  and  by  medical  advice  made  a voyage  to  Fernando  Po  and 
Calabar,  which  re-established  his  health. 

On  his  return  he  put  his  hand  to  all  manner  of  work  in  fitting 
up  the  house  and  school,  teaching  boys  and  girls,  in  which  he 
was  zealously  assisted  by  Mrs.  Ogden.  But  on  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, on  account  of  their  inability  to  withstand  the  climate,  the 
Board  gave  them  leave  to  return  to  America.  In  view  of  the 
destitute  state  of  the  mission,  after  earnest  prayer,  they  both  de- 
cided to  remain.  He  took  up  his  residence  at  the  school,  and  in 
addition  to  the  other  duties  of  the  mission,  turned  his  attention 
to  the  translation  of  the  Gospel  according  to  St.  Luke  into  one  of 
the  African  languages.  The  great  object  of  his  life  was  to  rear 
up  a native  ministry,  and  for  this  he  struggled  against  a hostile 
climate,  not  counting  his  life  dear  unto  himself. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1851  it  became  evident  that  he  would 
experience  another  attack  of  fever,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to 
ward  it  off  by  the  use  of  medicine.  He  lived  till  the  12th  of 
May,  1851,  when  he  fell  at  the  post  of  duty.  His  dying  words 
were,  “ Who  will  go  ? Can  you  go?  Who  will  go  to  preach  in 
Africa  ?”  He  left  behind  him  Mrs.  Ogden,  with  a child  a few 
weeks  old.  Mrs.  Ogden  has  had  four  years  experience  teach- 
ing the  native  youth,  and  now  renews  her  labors,  but  with  her 
son,  a full  counterpart  of  his  devoted  father.  While  she  will 
teach  with  the  book  in  the  school,  he  will  lead  the  boys  in  the 
field  with  the  hoe,  thus  not  only  blending  the  industrial  with  the 
literary,  but  looking  to  the  day  when  the  school  will  be  self-sup- 
porting. 

I have  sent  with  my  teachers  all  the  necessary  school  books, 


jjj 


8 

charts,  maps,  globes,  black-boards  and  modern  school  desks  for 
thirty-six  boys.  Bibles,  Testaments  and  Psalms  in  Arabic  and 
English,  also  enough  material  to  clothe  fifty  boys  for  one  entire 
year,  and  a sewing  machine.  I hope  soon  to  raise  sufficient 
funds  to  send  a modern  school-house  of  frame  to  Liberia,  the  plan 
of  which  is  now  before  us. 

This  school-house,  as  you  see,  is  to  seat  fifty  boys,  and  provide 
a comfortable  home  for  the  teachers.  With  this  proposed  light- 
house for  the  dark  continent,  there  must  go  a printing  press  with 
Arabic  and  English  type,  a full  working  loom,  and  a cabinet  organ 
to  help  in  the  songs  of  praise.  To  prepare  the  way  for  this  work 
in  Africa,  Mrs.  Ogden  and  her  manly  son  sailed  on  the  1st  of  this 
month  from  New  York,  on  the  barque  Liberia,  direct  for  Arling- 
ton, and  are  now  upon  the  ocean. 

May  I not  say  that  the  prayer  of  the  great  and  good  Dr.  Ogden 
“ who  will  go  to  preach  in  Africa ,” — has  been  heard,  recorded 
and  answered  ? Let  us  unite  in  committing  the  mother  and  son 
to  Him  who  “ is  mightier  than  many  waters,  yea,  than  the  mighty 
waves  of  the  sea.,J 

If  all  is  well,  the  school-bell  will  ring  at  Arthington,  January 
1st,  1 88 1.  This  information  is  now  on  its  way  to  my  new-made 
friends  in  England,  who  promised  me  their  influence  in  obtaining 
for  my  school  the  sons  of  chiefs  from  the  Niger  Valley  and 
Soudan,  where  exist  to-day  tens  of  millions  of  human  beings, 
may  I not  say  the  flower  of  the  Negro  race,  a people  free  from 
the  sin  of  slavery  and  the  curse  of  intoxicants,  all  waiting  for  the 
Christian  school-house,  and  to  learn  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

Africa ! ! What  a land  is  this  Africa.  Well  may  Victor  Hugo 
exclaim,  “ Let  us  take  that  land  from  whom  ? from  no  one. 
God  has  given  that  land  to  man ! Let  us  take  it,  not  by  the 
spear,  but  by  the  pruning  hook.  Not  by  the  sword,  but  by  the 
plough-share.” 

609  WALNUT  STREET. 

Philadelphia , nth  mo .,  gth.  1880. 


